METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING ROAD SALT

Abstract: In accordance with a method for spreading road salt, the salt is moistened prior to spreading with water according to a predetermined mixing ratio. The salt moistened with water is dispersed before spreading takes place. An arrangement for spreading road salt in accordance with this method comprises a salt reservoir (1), a water reservoir (2) and devices (3; 4) for transferring salt and water from the aforementioned reservoirs (1; 2) to a mixing station (5). In this the salt is moistened with water in an adjustable mixing ratio. There are also devices (6) so arranged as to transport the moistened salt to a spreader (7). Means (8) for finely distributing the moistened salt are provided in front of the spreader (7).

Description: METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING ROAD SALT. The present invention relates to a method for spreading road salt, in conjunction with which the salt is moistened prior to spreading with water according to an adjustable mixing ratio- The invention also relates to an arrangement for spreading road salt comprising a salt reservoir, a water reservoir, devices for transferring salt and water from the aforementioned reservoirs to a mixing station in which the salt is moistened with water in an adjustable mixing ratio, and devices so arranged as to transport the moistened salt to a spreader. A spreading arrangement of this kind for road salt, in which the salt is moistened in conjunction with spreading, is previously disclosed through CH A 400 337. Preventive salting involves spreading the salt conventionally, either dry or moistened with a salt solution or water. There is an associated risk of a large proportion of the salt being displaced by the traffic before it has had an opportunity to enter into solution. Salt is also spread in the form of a saturated salt solution containing approximately 20% of salt. The salt solution is effective and adheres well to the road surface, although it suffers from major disadvantages. It cannot be used during frost or precipitation because of the large proportion of water present in the solution, and it calls for major investments in salt solution plant and special spreader equipment. -The object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. This is achieved by the method in accordance with the invention in that the salt moistened with water is dispersed before spreading takes place. An arrangement for executing this method is characterized in that the aforementioned transport device comprises a means for the fine dispersion of the moistened salt. According to one particular characteristic of an arrangement in accordance with the invention, in which the aforementioned transport device comprises a hopper arranged above the spreader, an advantageous embodiment is achieved in that the arrangement comprises a grinder, capable of being pivoted about a vertical shaft between a neutral position and a working position, driven by an hydraulic motor supplied with energy from the hydraulic system of a transport vehicle, which grinder is situated inside the effective area of the hopper in the working position, and outside it in the neutral position. According to a second particular characteristic of the invention, the grinder consists of a bowl-shaped body with a central raised part, such that the bottom of the body forms a ring-shaped, circular, flat grinding path, and that a shaft runs across it through the raised part and is mounted in it so that it is free to rotate, which shaft is operatively connected to at least one grinding body in the form of a truncated cone so arranged as to run around the grinding path, whereby a particularly robust and efficiently operating embodiment of the grinder is achieved. The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment of an arrangement for spreading road salt by the method in accordance with the invention. The designation 1 is used in the drawing schematically in respect of a salt reservoir, and the designation 2 in respect of a water reservoir. The designations 3 and 4 are used in respect of devices for transporting salt and water to a mixing station 5. In this, the salt is moistened with water in an adjustable mixing ratio. Further transport devices 6 are arranged to transport the moistened salt to a spreader 7. The mixing station 5 and the aforementioned transport devices 3, 4 and 6 may consist of a gravity shaft, for example, with a sprinkler system arranged therein connected to a water reservoir 2 via a pipe. The quantity of water supplied is controlled, for example, by means of a tap of a conventional type. The spreader 7 is a so-called disc spreader consisting of a spreader disc 7c arranged at the narrow end of the hopper 7a and driven by an hydraulic motor 7b. In accordance with the invention, means 8 for finely dispersing the moistened salt are provided in front of the spreader 7. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the aforementioned means 8 consist of a grinder 8a so arranged as to be driven by an hydraulic motor 8b. The grinder 8a and the motor 8b are so arranged on a vertical shaft 9 as to pivot from a neutral position marked with solid lines to a working position marked with broken lines, in which the grinder 8a is situated inside the effective area of the hopper 7a. The grinder 8a is situated outside this area in the neutral position. The grinder in the illustrated embodiment comprises a bowl- shaped body 10 with a centrally raised part 10a and a partially open cover 10b. The bottom 10c of the body forms a ring-shaped, circular, flat grinding path. Running through the raised part 10a and mounted in it is a shaft, not visible in the drawing, which connects the motor 8b to a cone-shaped part 11, which supports two grinding bodies 11a, lib in the form of a truncated cone and so arranged as to run around the grinding path 10c. Moistened salt falls down onto the grinding path 10c in the working position and is dispersed by the grinding bodies 11a, lib, whereupon the dispersed, moistened salt, which now has the consistency of gruel, is allowed to drop onto the spreader disc 7c and is spread out onto the carriageway. It is obvious that the arrangement in accordance with the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope of the idea of invention. This is true both of the choice of appropriate dispersion means for the moistened salt and of the choice of transport device for transporting the salt before and after it has been moistened.

Claims: Patent Claims 1- Method for spreading road salt, in conjunction with which the salt is moistened prior to spreading with water according to an adjustable mixing ratio, characterized in that the salt moistened with water is dispersed before spreading takes place- 2. Arrangement for spreading road salt comprising a salt reservoir (1), a water reservoir (2), devices (3; 4) for transferring salt and water from the aforementioned reservoirs (1; 2) to a mixing station (5) in which the salt is moistened with water in an adjustable mixing ratio, and devices (6) so arranged as to transport the moistened salt to a spreader (7) , characterized in that means (8) for finely dispersing the moistened salt so that it takes on a gruel-like consistency are provided in front of the spreader (7) . 3. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 2, in which the aforementioned transport device comprises a hopper (7a) arranged above the spreader (7) , characterized in that the arrangement comprises a grinder (8) , capable of being pivoted about a vertical shaft (9) between a neutral position and a working position, driven by an hydraulic motor (8b) supplied with energy from the hydraulic system of a transport vehicle, which grinder is situated inside the effective area of the hopper (7a) in the working position, and outside it in the neutral position. 4. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the grinder (8) consists of a bowl-shaped body (10) with a central raised part (10a) , such that the bottom of the body (10) forms a ring- shaped, circular, flat grinding path (10b) , in that a shaft runs across it through the raised part (10a) and is mounted in it so that it is free to rotate, which shaft is operatively connected to at least one grinding body (11a; lib) in the form of a truncated cone so arranged as to run around the grinding path (10c) .

Inventors: ENGDAHL SALLERT, GUSTAVSSON JOERGEN, ENGDAHL, SALLERT, GUSTAVSSON, JOERGEN
Applicants: ENGDAHL SALLERT, GUSTAVSSON JOERGEN, ENGDAHL, SALLERT, GUSTAVSSON, JOERGEN
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E01C19
IPC codes: E01H10